Baseball game

ABSTRACT

A baseball game comprising a playing board having a simulated baseball field indicia thereon including a pitcher&#39;&#39;s mound and an outfield and a pitching arm pivotally positioned in a slot. The pitching arm is connected to the board by flexible tape which allows both pivotal and tilting movement of the pitching arm. An elongate pitching arm actuating means extends laterally of said board and is slidable on its longitudinal axis and is pivotally secured to the board whereby a ball positioned on said pitching arm can be propelled towards home plate. Bottle caps on the board represent the fielders.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Richard J. Naturale 3371 Lakeview Blvd., Stow, Ohio 44224 [21 1 Appl. No. 866,833

[22] Filed Oct. 16, 1969 [45] Patented Apr. 27, 1971 [54] BASEBALL GAME 9 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs. [52] U.S. C1 273/89, 273/90, 273/129 [51] Int. Cl A631 7/10 [50] Field of Search 273/89, 90, 129, 85 (C)(E); 124/5 [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,122,141 12/1914 Mcllroy.... 273/89 1,310,482 7/1919 lles 273/85(C) 1,792,448 2/ 1931 Smellow 273/89 1,876,469 9/1932 Quinn.... 273/85(E) 3,377,068 4/1968 Schoen 273/89 Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Paul E. Shapiro Attorney-Oldham & Oldham ABSTRACT: A baseball game comprising a playing board having a simulated baseball field indicia thereon including a pitchers mound and an outfield and a pitching arm pivotally positioned in a slot. The pitching arm is connected to the board by flexible tape which allows both pivotal and tilting movement of the pitching arm. An elongate pitching arm actuating means extends laterally of said board and is slidable on its longitudinal axis and is pivotally secured to the board whereby a ball positioned on said pitching arm can be propelled towards home plate. Bottle caps on the board represent the fielders.

BASEBALL GAME The invention relates to new and useful improvements in games and more particularly to a miniature or indoor baseball game in which a variation of simple and common household goods has been compiled for use along with the basic playboard to provide a simulated baseball game.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is known that many existing simulated baseball games, due to their sophistication or complicated design, have fragile appendages and/or parts which wear out and are usually difficult to replace. Many of such games are relatively costly. These dilemmas are eradicated by the simple design of the game of the present invention, containing no fragile appendages, and by the fact that all pieces that feasibly could be lost or broken are common household goods and thereby could be facilely replaced.

An important object of the invention is to provide a great deal of amusement to participants with varied degrees of skill and knowledge relating to the art of baseball; and to provide some manual actions by the players.

A further object of the invention is to provide a game surface which is durable, simple and inexpensive to construct and that simulates an actual baseball field and on which one may easily play the game of the invention.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel game in which a game board is laid out to simulate a baseball field and in which the intercepting means or catching members used to simulate players are made up of bottle caps.

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, the apparatus herein described comprises a rectangular board defining a playing field and a peripheral wooden guard rail formed therearound, several oblong indentations or depressions symmetrically positioned in the outfield" portion of the board, and a pitching arm affixed in a rectangular slot approximately in the center of the playing surface. An adjustable control means is provided for the pitching arm to permit variation in the pitching action.

The invention is embodied in the apparatus shown in the accompanying drawings, in which the views therein are as follows, like reference numerals designating identical parts throughout the several views:

FIG. l is a plan view of the playing apparatus; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary bottom plan of the apparatus.

Reference now is made to the details of the game, and side flanges or edge means 112, and end flanges or end means 11 extend around a board 110 to define the playing surface.

The field or board 110 includes the usual diamond with the base paths, pitcher's mound, homeplate area, outfield depressions, on deck circles, etc. being, for example, colored white 13, and the remainder of the field green til.

Suitably formed in the outfield surface are several recesses played. Also, on the playing surface, when the game is in progress, are nine movable simulating players made of bottle caps 20.

Another feature of the game is the provision of a rectangular planar pitching arm 3 received in a slot in the board it) and affixed pivotally to the board by tape M. The ball 15 rests on this arm, and the unsecured bat, suchas a popsicle stick 21 is moved by the offensive player. The arm 3 is controlled, as described hereinafter.

The said apparatus is supported by wooden or other suitable strips 19 secured to the under surface of the board 10, or by downwardly extending portions of the edge and end means. A

'pair of pitching arm supports 4 are also secured to the lower surface of the board parallel to the pitching arm 3. Inserted through one of these side braces and one of the pitching arm supports 4, is a pitching control rod 2 that is axially movable within the limits of the pitching arm supports. The rod 2 is bent perpendicularly at its inner end and an eye 7 is formed. A control finger or section 30 is provided at the axially outer end of the rod 2 which usually is made from a metal rod or wire. To aid in control of the rod 2, a resilient member 5, such as a rubber band held in place by the two supports 4, are affixed to the back of the playing board. This resilient member 5 slidably extends through the eye 7 and the supports 4. This eye 7 is in contact with the lower surface of the pitching arm 3, and when the rod is turned by moving the control finger 30, the pitching arm 3 can be moved. By moving the rod 2 axially short distances, the relative position of the eye 7, in relation to the pitching arm 3, is changed and different pitching actions can be obtained. The finger control or lever 30 may have a handle 31 thereon and moving such handle pivotally downwardly causes the eye 7 on the rod 2 to move upwardly, tilt the pitching arm 3 forwardly and propel the ball towards homeplate.

This above-mentioned pitching mechanism is an important facet of the game's design. This mechanism is one which allows variations in the "pitching motion by flexure or twisting of the tape 14 while having no fragile and/or irreplaceable parts, as a new rubber band can be inserted into the apparatus easily.

The invention may be practiced according to any code of rules which the participants may wish to adopt, it being understood that my claims theretoare not limited to one specific set of rules, an example of which will be explained hereinafter.

The game may be played by one or more participants. When the board is ready for the beginning of the game, the bottle caps 20 would be placed in the field to simulate eight or nine defensive players, and the ball 15 would be resting on the pitching arm 3 and the bat 21 should be held by someone in the vicinity of the batters circle and homeplate area. The play begins when the pitcher tosses the ball 15 by actuating the finger control lever 30. The pitch can be changed by moving the pitching rod 2 out or in with relation to the side of the board. If the ball comes in contact with any portion of the white homeplate area, or if the batter fouls or misses, the pitch is deemed a strike. Any three strikes in succession constitute a strike out.

If and when the ball is hit fair, the possiblity of scoring exists. If the ball contacts one of the bottle caps, the batter is out. However, if the ball goes into the outfield and doesnt touch a defensive cap, the offensive man is awarded a one base hit. A batted ball along the foul lines, passing a defensive cap and remaining fair, is a two base hit. A ball which is hit into a depression without touching a defensive cap is a home run or a triple, however it is marked. The base runners on these offensive plays advance as many bases as the batter.

All other procedure and rules are identical with those practiced in the actual baseball game.

It should be noted that the pitching arm 3 has a small depression in its upper surface for receiving the ball 15. The arm 3 preferably is secured to the game board by a thin flexible adhesive tape 14 that provides a durable inexpensive hinge means.

The end of the rubberband 5 engage supports 6 on the bottom of the board 10.

The flexible tape 14 used to secure the pitching arm 3 in place is shown on the lower surface of the board 10 but it preferably will engage the upper surface of the board.

The action of the pitching arm 3 may be improved by positioning such arm in a slot providing noticable lateral clearance for the arm. The pitching arm may be made from metal. The arm 3 may also be made from wood or plastic and have a metal weight 22, FIG. 2, embedded in each rear comer of the pitching arm to improve the tilting action of the arm 3 when the inner end of the arm 2 engages the pitching arm 3 offcenter.

Usually no cap 20, representing a catcher, would be used in playing the game. But the bottle cap baseball game will simulate an actual baseball game and provide many hours of enjoymerit. Hence, the objects of the invention have been achieved.

lclaim:

l. A baseball game comprising a playing board having a simulated baseball field indicia thereon including a pitchers mound and an outfield, said board having a plurality of recesses in its outfield area, and a slot in its pitchers mound,

a pitching arm positioned in said slot and mounted therein by means for allowing pivotal movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to the intended path of travel of a pitched ball, and for allowing tilting movement about an axis substantially parallel to the intended path,

' an elongate pitching arm actuating means extending laterally of said board and being slidable on its longitudinal axis, said pitching arm having an offset actuating section at its inner end positioned below and adapted to operably engage and lift said pitching arm, and an offset control section positioned beyond the margin of said board whereby a ball positioned on said pitching arm can be propelled towards home plate by arcuate movement of said control section to rotate said actuating means on its longitudinal axis.

2. A baseball game as in claim 1, where said means is:

a thin flexible tape attaching said pitching arm to said board, and

said pitching arm has a ball receiving recess therein.

3. A baseball game as in claim 1, where:

said board has support means therefor on its bottom and upwardly extending flange means at its margins, and

defensive members comprising bottle caps are provided.

4. A baseball game as in claim 1 where resilient means engage said actuating section and bias it towards an inoperative position, and said actuating means is movable axially to engage different portions of said pitching arm to vary the ball propelling action.

5. A baseball game as in claim 4, where:

means engage and journal said actuating means which comprises a stiff metal wire, and

said actuating section comprises an eye formed in said metal wire.

6. A baseball game as in claim 4, where:

said resilient means comprises a rubber band secured to the bottom of said board, and

bottom support means are attached to said board to provide working space for said actuating means.

7. A baseball game as in claim 5 where said resilient means comprises a rubber band extending through said eye under tension to retain it resiliently in inoperative position.

8. A baseball game as in claim 2 where said pitching arm is made from wood or other lightweight material, and a small metal member is attached operatively to such arm adjacent the comers of the free end of such arm, said arm being free to tilt laterally in said slot.

9. A baseball game as in claim 2 where said pitching arm is made from metal. 

1. A baseball game comprising a playing board having a simulated baseball field indicia thereon including a pitcher''s mound and an outfield, said board having a plurality of recesses in its outfield area, and a slot in its pitcher''s mound, a pitching arm positioned in said slot and mounted therein by means for allowing pivotal movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to the intended path of travel of a pitched ball, and for allowing tilting movement about an axis substantially parallel to the intended path, an elongate pitching arm actuating means extending laterally of said board and being slidable on its longitudinal axis, said pitching arm having an offset actuating section at its inner end positioned below and adapted to operably engage and lift said pitching arm, and an offset control section positioned beyond the margin of said board whereby a ball positioned on said pitching arm can be propelled towards home plate by arcuate movement of said control section to rotate said actuating means on its longitudinal axis.
 2. A baseball game as in claim 1, where said means is: a thin flexible tape attaching said pitching arm to said board, and said pitching arm has a ball receiving recess therein.
 3. A baseball game as in claim 1, where: said board has support means therefor on its bottom and upwardly extending flange means at its margins, and defensive members comprising bottle caps are provided.
 4. A baseball game as in claim 1 where resilient means engage said actuating section and bias it towards an inoperative position, and said actuating means is movable axially to engage different portions of said pitching arm to vary the ball propelling action.
 5. A baseball game as in claim 4, where: means engage and journal said actuating means which comprises a stiff metal wire, and said actuating section comprises an eye formed in said metal wire.
 6. A baseball game as in claim 4, where: said resilient means comprises a rubber band secured to the bottom of said board, and bottom support means are attached to said board to provide working space for said actuating means.
 7. A baseball game as in claim 5 where said resilient means comprises a rubber band extending through said eye under tension to retain it resiliently in inoperative position.
 8. A baseball game as in claim 2 where said pitching arm is made from wood or other lightweight material, and a small metal member is attached operatively to such arm adjacent the corners of the free end of such arm, said arm being free to tilt laterally in said slot.
 9. A baseball game as in claim 2 where said pitching arm is mAde from metal. 